Countries chart priorities to advance special agricultural products, reinforcing national ownership and collaboration

FAO Member Countries participating in the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative are set to strengthen national ownership, scale practical innovations, and deepen collaboration to advance sustainable value chains for special agricultural products in the coming years. At the 2025 OCOP Global Annual Coordination Meeting on 17 December 2025, participants were urged to continue their “incredible” work in advancing the initiative worldwide.  

“We have done an incredible job conceptualizing the One Country, One Priority Product Initiative and what it will actually bring as benefits to our members and to many of their very critical agricultural commodities and value chains,” FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol said.   

“As we go into 2026, we're going to need all of you to roll up your sleeves, and continue to think about how we make OCOP a very impactful programme for the countries we're working with,” she added.  

The virtual meeting brought together more than 100 participants from FAO Member Countries, FAO leadership, technical experts, and partner organizations to align priorities, strengthen coordination, and map out next steps for 2026. Assistant Directors-General and Regional Representatives from all five FAO regions, OCOP regional focal points, national OCOP focal points representing governments and FAO country offices, as well as representatives from partner organizations and other stakeholders, joined the meeting.  

Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), highlighted that OCOP has grown into a “growing, global movement” drawing strength from the diversity of its members and the Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) promoted through the initiative. “Across 96 countries, we are supporting the sustainable development of 56 Special Agriculture Products, each embedded in its own landscape, culture and community. OCOP has shown that diversity is not a barrier to progress. It is its greatest strength,” he said.  

The OCOP Initiative promotes the sustainable development of SAPs with unique qualities, market potential, and cultural significance by strengthening the entire value chain—from production to marketing. It contributes to FAO’s strategic goal of building more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, complementing other flagship initiatives and programmes.  

During the meeting, outgoing Executive Director Jingyuan Xia, Adviser to the FAO Director-General, reviewed major achievements over the past year and outlined core activities and challenges for 2026. He emphasized that the way forward must build on the continuing evolution of OCOP “from a global initiative, global action, global programme to global movement,” requiring more engagement, deeper synergies across FAO initiatives such as Hand-in-Hand and the Green Cities Initiative, increased fundraising, and greater visibility through outreach and communications.  

Yasmi outlined three forward-looking priorities for 2026: strengthening OCOP implementation mechanisms to enable countries to deliver on their own priorities through national ownership; scaling up practical, field-tested innovations; and deepening integration and solidarity among countries facing similar challenges.  

“Our ambition is simple yet profound. A shared direction, a shared responsibility and a shared future,” Yasmi added. 

The meeting also marked a leadership transition within the OCOP Secretariat. Participants paid tribute to Xia for his role in establishing and guiding the initiative since its launch in 2021. Xia formally handed over executive director responsibilities to Yasmi.

Participants including Abebe Haile Gabriele, FAO Representative for the Regional Office of Africa, and Viorel Gutu, FAO Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, joined in thanking Xia for his leadership over the past four years. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol also thanked Xia for his contributions before concluding the meeting.  

Screenshot of the meeting. ©FAO